Head coach Rowdy Freeman ready to lead Caprock football into new chapter

Nearly every year since he joined the Caprock football staff back in 2016, Rowdy Freeman would make his way into then-head coach Dan Sherwood's office at the end of the season. He'd do Sherwood the courtesy of knowing that he'd received interest in other opportunities or that he was considering applying for an open head coaching position.

Following the 2022 season, however, that wasn't the case. Freeman was content, he said, and feeling settled with his role as associate head coach of the Longhorns.

"It’s funny how God works," Freeman said with a chuckle. "I guess I had gotten comfortable and he (God) decided it was time for me to get uncomfortable again.”

Sherwood ended up departing to take the head football coach position at Randall, leaving AISD searching for a new man to run the program at Caprock. After the district elected to offer the position and allowed Freeman to discuss the possibility with his family, the decision was made.

Freeman would be the next head football coach at Caprock.

A new challenge

This will be Freeman's first head coaching opportunity at the varsity level. He'd worked with Bowie Middle School before becoming an assistant with the Longhorns back in 2016. He coached wide receivers and special teams for three seasons before being named associate head coach in 2019.

Coaching runs in Freeman's blood, too. His maternal grandfather was the legendary Stocky Lamberson of Panhandle High School, where Freeman graduated in 2003. Freeman was only eight-years old when Lamberson passed away, so he didn't get the opportunity to learn under him.

But he's taken the opportunity to learn as much as he can from everyone else in his coaching career.

“It’s been all about learning," Freeman said. "I’m learning something new every day or learning more about something I already knew a little about all the time. It’s been completely different from what I’ve used to, but I’m very happy and enjoying getting to talk to different people and doing different things than normal.”

While things will undoubtedly be different, that doesn't mean everything is going to change. Sherwood oversaw the most successful stretch of football in Caprock history and Freeman won't just toss away everything that was established, especially when he had a hand in implementing the foundation that is already there.

“When Dan named me his associate head coach, he put a lot on my plate," Freeman said. "He prepared me for this position and gave me a hand in building this place. I’d be crazy to come in here and try to change everything, so some things will stay the same and continue. … We’re making changes, and we’re going to adjust some things, but we won’t throw it all out and start from scratch.”

Freeman told his team captains that while they didn't necessarily choose him, he chose them when he accepted this position. He promises to produce a team that will put itself in position to win football games, make their families proud and always give their best.

The players appear to be there already.

The attendance at Freeman's introductory conference was eye-popping, a fact that he says humbled him. Sights like that motivate him even more to leave the Longhorns in a better place than he found it.

“The honeymoon phase came and went pretty quick," Freeman said. "I’ve got a renewed spirt and a renewed energy. The Caprock family got a guy that will leave no stone unturned, that will take care of their kids, and turn teenage boys into quality young men. This place is in good hands with our staff, I’m super excited and I’m ready to get going.”

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Head coach Rowdy Freeman to lead Caprock football into new chapter